The process of transitioning from high school into college comes with a vast majority of emotions. For some individuals, this process may be nerve-wracking, while for others, it may be exciting. However, what’s common in each of those scenarios is that everything they might go through involves having a strong and stable mindset. Training one’s mind early on prepares it for life’s biggest challenges. Especially when entering adulthood, which offers more responsibilities. Mental health and the promotion of wellness is so crucial, especially for college students. In this fresh chapter of their lives, they are called to rely on themselves more than others and navigate each day independently. Everyday tasks such as what to eat, where to sleep, and how to keep track of all those classes, are all decisions that must be made by themselves. Yet, there are still ways to navigate and progress through those challenges to remain calm, collected, and of sound mind. 

Landing onto the campus ground, each student is met with a different environment, different personalities, and an entirely different schedule. It may seem hard to walk up someone to spark a conversation and become friends. Trust that it’s completely normal and ok! The question now is, how do I make these friendships and connections without becoming so anxious or nervous? Fortunately, there are clubs, organizations, and events all around campus to meet people! Most of the time, those same people offer those connections with open arms! Many students find it easier to become friends with those who match their personalities or interest. That is also completely fine. It is important to meet those people who compliment you and pour into you. Building your personal circle helps refresh your mind and improves your mental security because you learn to feel safe around those people.  

Now, how does one balance schoolwork and extracurriculars? We all know that college comes with responsibilities, but it also comes with fun. Often times, it becomes harder and harder to balance these two aspects at once. You may be a collegiate athlete trying to manage practice with homework, or a club leader balancing midterms while also being a prominent role for your organization. Whichever role you fall under, it is important to come up with a system to help manage your time and energy properly. A few examples to help lower the stress can be using a planner digitally or physically, finding or creating a study group to ensure you understand the material as well as consistently testing your knowledge, or investing in your own schedule separating which days are for which tasks. Building those time management skills now will help you grow and prepare for more demanding tasks. Remember, college is for building up who you will be in the future. It’s best to practice those skills now, rather than later.  

Finally, the biggest aspect for many: monetary responsibilities. This does not only mean making sure college payments are submitted, but also everyday financial literacy. Understanding the concept of wants and needs is essential for a college student. Do you want that bag of chips from the vending machine, or do you need it? Practicing those wise decisions everyday will decrease the amount of stress you have financially. The last thing students want to worry about is going broke, especially in the first semester of college. However, there are many tools and resources given daily for students to learn more about financial literacy. Sources like financial literacy workshops around campus, learning about budgeting when going grocery shopping or at the mall, or practicing discernment when deciding if you want to eat at the Cougar Café or Chick-fil-A. Choosing to have the right effort and mindset as you continue this collegiate journey will benefit you and others in the long run.  

It is important to put the action behind words in college. Take the time to sit back and reflect on the decisions you make that are causing so much stress and anxiety. Then discover and practice ways to improve on those things. There’s no need to be hard on yourself, because everyone around you is still learning. Including you. Still, there are endless resources and connections all around campus that are willing to guide and help you improve your mental health and wellness!